Park University has seen its fair share of students go through their classes, walk across the stage at graduation, receive their diplomas and move forward on their paths to academic success.

But one thing Park doesn’t see as often is someone taking his or her athletics to the next step.

Derek Gordon is changing that.

Gordon, a May 2014 graduate of Park University where he studied business management, signed with the Kansas City T-Bones, a member of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, on June 30, and made his professional debut July 3.

Gordon grew up in Lincoln, Neb., as the youngest of four boys in a baseball-loving family.

His three older brothers – Eric, Alex and Brett – all played baseball while in high school and college, so Gordon was introduced to the sport at a young age.

“I guess you could say baseball is like a family business,” Gordon said. “My cousin plays in the minor leagues, my brother played independent baseball, my other brother played at Park University before me and that’s how I got to Park, and my other brother plays for the Royals, so you could kind of say it runs in the family. It’s almost like you don’t have a choice but you do.”

His oldest brother, Eric, played baseball at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, his second-oldest brother, Alex, played baseball at the University of Nebraska, and his other older brother, Brett, played baseball at Park.

Gordon said he chose Park University because it was the only school that really gave him a chance and also where he first started his pitching career.

“Coach Lundy was the only person that actually gave me a shot,” he said, “He actually recruited me as a second baseman and I was going to pitch maybe a little bit because I didn’t really pitch much in high school.”

Gordon was a four-year starter at Park where he earned a career record of 24-8 with a 3.35 ERA and 172 strikeouts in 212 innings pitched.

He also holds the record of most career wins and strikeouts in Park’s history, setting both during his senior season, passing the previous record holder for strikeouts, Clay King, by four strikeouts.

After four successful years of baseball with the Park University Pirates, Gordon brought his A-game with him to the T-Bones, along with what he calls a “chip on his shoulder,” because of his brother, Alex.

“Everybody knows who my brother is,” he said, “and so every time I go out, I have to perform or it’s not going to be a ‘good enough’ kind of thing. I just try to have to fight and work as hard as I possibly can. Baseball is such a game of losing battles that you just have to try and limit the mistakes, I guess what you could say.”

But even with having a brother with such a recognizable name in the Kansas City area, Gordon said he does not feel like he is playing in his brother’s shadow and that Alex is “just another person playing baseball.”

“I wouldn’t say there’s a shadow,” he said. “More like, I don’t put a shadow on myself and he doesn’t put a shadow on me. Everybody else tries to create the shadow. I have to try to avoid it as much as I can, and I usually do. He’s a supportive guy, and he’s always supportive of me.”

On the night of his professional debut with the T-Bones, Gordon, who is a relief pitcher, struck out one and didn’t allow a base runner in one inning of relief. The game ended in a loss.

Gordon earned his first professional win two nights later, where he threw a complete game, four-hit shutout in the seven-inning game.

Since joining the T-Bones, Gordon said he has learned a lot from the team.

“It’s nice to play with guys that have a lot of experience that I can learn from,” he said. “I listen to what they say and take in what they say and try to put it into what I’m doing…They’re really helping me, as a rookie, kind of earn his wings, start pitching and do it the professional way.”

Even though Gordon is now a professional baseball player, he still wants to eventually take it to the next step of major league.

“Major league baseball has been my dream since I was three years old,” he said. “Watching my brothers play baseball, I’ve always wanted to play. Every kid that plays baseball and whose dream is to play baseball is to play major league baseball, so yeah, that’s my dream.

“But this is a good start. I mean, I’m learning a lot from the coaches, from the players, from just the experience, and even the fans.”

Making it to the major leagues will not be an easy process but since starting his baseball career at a young age, Gordon knows what comes with making success happen.

“You have to work as hard as you possibly can,” he said. “There’s always going to be that one person who works harder than you…That’s something I learned from my parents, that nothing comes to you. If you want something, you have to go get it.

“When people are out there, putting you down, those so-called ‘haters,’ I welcome them. Because if they’re going to put you down, that means you’ve got to be doing something right.”